Profile management method and system

ABSTRACT

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is disclosed a profile management method comprising receiving short profile data of a user from a device, the short profile data comprising an identifier element and being associated with long profile data of the user in a database on a network, the short profile data being indicative of at least one of data format of the short profile data and location of the database on the network; locating the database on the network based on at least one of the identifier, the data format of the short profile data and the location of the database on the network, the long profile data comprising a plurality of data elements; and retrieving at least one of the plurality of data elements of the long profile data from the database upon the database being located.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 11/625,692filed Jan. 22, 2007, and claims the benefit thereof.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of wirelesscommunications. More specifically, the present invention relates to asystem and method for wireless networking among different devices.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The rapid pace of development in communications technology has seenwireless communication become an integral part of our lives. A wirelessconnection, detection or communication involves the linkage of two ormore devices, such as cell phones, without the use of physical wires.Wireless communication technology gives users mobility to move aroundfreely within the defined area while still being able to communicatewith other wireless devices within the same defined area.

Conventional wireless communication technology connects two or moredevices through a common network source. The two or more devicestypically allow their users to communicate through voice, text orimages. However, in a situation where it is desirable for two users ofthe devices to positively interact, a human facilitator is usuallypreferred. The human facilitator will have knowledge of individualprofiles such as personal characteristics and preferences about each ofthe two users. The facilitator then reviews the information andidentifies any matches in the personal characteristics and preferencesof the two users. If such matches exit, the facilitator then informs thetwo users about the matches and introduces the two users to each other.

However, in the absence of the human facilitator, interaction betweenthe two or more individual is usually hampered by one individual's lackof profile knowledge of the other individuals and the uncertainty of theother individuals willingness to interact.

Even in with the presence of the human facilitator, interaction is onlylimited to individuals who are within visual proximity from one another.Additionally, being provided with another person's contact number stilldoes not facilitate the interaction as there is always an uncertainty asto the interaction preference of the other individual or the suitabilityof the other individual's profile to meet one individual's preference.

There is therefore a need for a system and a method for facilitatinginteraction between individuals in the absence of a human facilitatorand visual proximity.

SUMMARY

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is disclosed aprofile management method comprising receiving short profile data of auser from a device, the short profile data comprising an identifierelement and being associated with long profile data of the user in adatabase on a network, the short profile data being indicative of atleast one of data format of the short profile data and location of thedatabase on the network; locating the database on the network based onat least one of the identifier, the data format of the short profiledata and the location of the database on the network, the long profiledata comprising a plurality of data elements; and retrieving at leastone of the plurality of data elements of the long profile data from thedatabase upon the database being located.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is disclosedA device-readable medium having stored therein a plurality ofprogramming instructions, which when executed on a device, theinstructions cause the device to receive short profile data of a userfrom a device, the short profile data comprising an identifier elementand being associated with long profile data of the user in a database ona network, the short profile data being indicative of at least one ofdata format of the short profile data and location of the database onthe network; locate the database on the network based on at least one ofthe identifier, the data format of the short profile data and thelocation of the database on the network, the long profile datacomprising a plurality of data elements; and retrieve at least one ofthe plurality of data elements of the long profile data from thedatabase upon the database being located.

In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is disclosed aprofile management system comprising means for receiving short profiledata of a user from a device, the short profile data comprising anidentifier element and being associated with long profile data of theuser in a database on a network, the short profile data being indicativeof at least one of data format of the short profile data and location ofthe database on the network; means for locating the database on thenetwork based on at least one of the identifier, the data format of theshort profile data and the location of the database on the network, thelong profile data comprising a plurality of data elements; and means forretrieving at least one of the plurality of data elements of the longprofile data from the database upon the database being located.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows two users exchanging individual profiles wirelessly throughtheir respective devices; and

FIG. 2 shows three users exchanging individual profiles wirelesslythrough their respective devices, the first two users exchanging theirindividual profiles via the third user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the drawings, preferred embodiments of the presentinvention for providing a system and a method for facilitatinginteraction between individuals in the absence of a human facilitatorand visual proximity are described hereinafter.

For purposes of brevity and clarity, description of the invention islimited hereinafter to a system and method for facilitating interactionbetween individuals in the absence of a human facilitator and visualproximity. This however does not preclude various embodiments of theinvention from other applications that require a similar operatingperformance. Functional and operational principles upon whichembodiments of the invention are based on remain the same throughout thevarious embodiments.

The system comprises a unit, such as a dongle, that is adapted forconnection to an audio device, a telecommunication device, a personaldigital assistant (PDA) or a similar device. The device is preferablystandalone and includes an interface for receiving the unit.Alternatively, the unit is integrated with the device having at leastone of audio playback, telecommunication or personal digital assistant(PDA) functionalities.

As shown in FIG. 1, a first unit and a second unit are integrated with afirst device 10 and a second device 20 respectively, according to apreferred embodiment of the invention. The first and second devices 10,20 are originally communicatively incompatible. The integration of theunit with each of the first and second devices 10, 20 allows wirelesscommunication to be established between the two devices 10, 20.

The user of the first device 10 initiates exchange of information withthe user of the second device 20 via initiation signaling. This involvestransmission of exchange signals from the first device 10 to the seconddevice 20 and the reception of the exchange signals by the second device20 or vice versa. The exchange signals carry exchange data thatcomprises an exchange property, which is identifiable as one of anapproved or unapproved property. The exchange signals may or may notcontain full information.

In a first situation, the user of the first device 10 requestsinformation from the user of the second device 20. In particular, thefirst device 10 contains a first profile data that is transmitted to thesecond device 20 as first profile signals for requesting informationfrom the second device 20. The first profile data corresponds to a firstdata field that comprises a first plurality of data elements. The seconddevice 20 contains a second profile data that corresponds to a seconddata field. The second profile data comprises a second plurality of dataelements.

The exchange signals contain at least some basic identification, such asan identifier for initiating the exchange. The identifier may or may notcontain preference information for exchange approval. Examples of theexchange property include an identifier of the first or second devices10, 20, a characteristic of the second profile data or one of the secondplurality of data elements. The characteristic of the second profiledata includes data format of the second profile data, size of the secondprofile data or quantity of the second plurality of data elements.

In particular, the first plurality of data elements relates toinformation associated with the first user and the second plurality ofdata elements relates to information associated with the second user.

Upon receiving the exchange signal by the second device 20, there may ormay not be additional verification steps to be conducted by the seconddevice 20. The second device 20 then transmits profile availabilitysignals to the first device 10. The profile availability signalspreferably carry at least an availability indicator recognizable by thefirst device 10, the characteristic of the first profile data or one ofthe first plurality of data elements.

The second device 20 has a plurality of allowable properties. Theexchange property from first device 10 is then compared with theplurality of allowable properties. The exchange property is subsequentlyidentified as the approved property if the exchange property matcheswith one of the plurality of allowable properties.

In response to the exchange property being an approve property, thesecond profile data of the second device 20 is transmitted to the firstdevice 10 as a third profile signal. Alternatively, the exchange ofinformation will be approved for all except user of a certainpreference. The preference is reflected as the first profile data in thefirst device 10.

Exchange of information could be preceded by the second device 20encrypting the second profile data. The second device 20 then convertsthe encrypted second profile data into the second profile signals priorto transmission to the first device 10. The first device 10 thenreceives the encrypted second profile signals as encrypted first profiledata. The encrypted first profile data is subsequently decrypted.

Request for profile could also include a requisite format to make surethat key data fields are included and that redundant data fields areexcluded. Alternatively, the data elements are filtered subsequent tobeing received on the respective devices.

In another situation, exchange of information involves the user of thesecond device 20 initiating a request for information from the user ofthe first device 10. Similar to the foregoing description, the secondprofile with the first plurality of data elements is transmitted fromthe second device 20 to the first device 10 in response to the exchangeproperty being an approved property.

In situation where the received information by the first device 10 fromthe second device 20 is a short profile data that is incomplete based ona pre-determined set of identifier element such as data fields, theinformation must contain the necessary information or clues (e.g.identifier, pseudo names, data format, address). This is to enableretrieval of information by the first device 10 from a dedicateddatabase containing long profile data on a network or from multiplenodes (representing devices or websites like flickers or facebook) wherethe necessary information is obtainable.

The short profile data is indicative of at least data format of theshort profile data or location of the dedicated database on the network.Examples of the short profile data include contact details, preferencesand bio-data of the user of the second device 20.

Additionally, the short profile data has metadata that comprises atleast an encryption key or information on encryption format of the longprofile data. In particular, the metadata being descriptive of at leastthe data format of the short profile data or data format of the longprofile data.

The short profile data is preferably processed to identify the user ofthe second device 20 as one of an acceptable user and an unacceptable.The short profile data of the user of the second device 20 is discardedif the user upon identifying the user of the second device 20 isidentified as an unacceptable user.

The long profile data from the dedicated database is provided with aplurality of required data fields. More specifically, each of theplurality of data elements of the long profile data being associatedwith one of the plurality of source data fields. The first device 10subsequently retrieves at least one of the plurality of data elementswith at least one of the plurality of source data fields correspondingwith at least one of the plurality of required data fields.

The information is located based on at least one of the identifier, thedata format of the short profile data and the location of the dedicateddatabase on the network or the long profile data that comprises aplurality of data elements. More specifically, the location of theinformation involves a search for at least one of a plurality of nodesof the network based on at least one of the identifier and the dataformat of the short profile data for retrieval of at least one of theplurality of data elements of the long profile data therefrom.

The first device 10 subsequently retrieves the plurality of dataelements upon the dedicated database being located on the network. Thesecond profile data of the first user 10 is then updated with at leastone of the contact details, preferences and bio-data of the user of thesecond device 20.

More specifically, the retrieval of information may be done via apersonal computer or dedicated base station that points to or is incommunication with the first device 10. The personal computer or basestation is in data communication with the first device 10 hosting. Basedon the pre-determined set of data fields, the empty data fields arepopulated (or most of them) with information retrieved from thededicated database on the network. There will be instances where not allthe data fields can be completely populated.

Additionally, should certain data fields on the dedicated database beempty but correlates to the data field of the data element contained inthe second device 20, for example the pseudo names and contact numbercorrelating to an identifier which are received during the initialhandshake or data exchange, the device may reverse update the fields onthe dedicated database on the network. This is on condition that thedata fields are flagged as updateable on the network.

As shown in FIG. 2, the handshake, verification, data exchange andupdate of the first and second devices 10, 20 may be done on the go andvia one or more third device 30 between the communicating first andsecond devices 10, 20.

In the foregoing manner, embodiments of a system and a method forfacilitating interaction between individuals in the absence of a humanfacilitator and visual proximity are described. Although the presentinvention has been described with reference to particular embodiments,it will be apparent to one skilled in the art in view of this disclosurethat numerous changes and/or modifications can be made without departingfrom the scope and spirit of the invention.

1. A profile management method comprising: receiving short profile dataof a user from a device, the short profile data comprising an identifierelement and being associated with long profile data of the user in adatabase on a network, the short profile data being indicative of atleast one of data format of the short profile data and location of thedatabase on the network; locating the database on the network based onat least one of the identifier, the data format of the short profiledata and the location of the database on the network, the long profiledata comprising a plurality of data elements; and retrieving at leastone of the plurality of data elements of the long profile data from thedatabase upon the database being located.
 2. The method as in claim 1,the short profile data further comprising at least one of contactdetails, preferences and bio-data of the user.
 3. The method as in claim2, further comprising: updating the database with the at least one ofcontact details, preferences and bio-data of the user.
 4. The method asin claim 1, further comprising: processing the short profile data toidentify the user as one of an acceptable user and an unacceptable; anddiscarding the short profile data of the user upon identifying the useras an unacceptable user.
 5. The method as in claim 1, receiving shortprofile data of a user from a device comprising: receiving the shortprofile data and metadata of the short profile data from the device. 6.The method as in claim 5, the metadata comprising at least one of anencryption key and information on encryption format of the long profiledata.
 7. The method as in claim 5, the metadata being descriptive of atleast one of the data format of the short profile data and data formatof the long profile data.
 8. The method as in claim 1, retrieving atleast one of the plurality of data elements of the long profile datafrom the database comprising: providing a plurality of required datafields; providing a plurality of source data fields, each of theplurality of data elements of the long profile being associated with oneof the plurality of source data fields; and retrieving the at least oneof the plurality of data elements with at least one of the plurality ofsource data fields corresponding with at least one of the plurality ofrequired data fields.
 9. The method as in claim 1, locating the databaseon the network based on at least one of the identifier, the data formatof the short profile data and the location of the database on thenetwork comprising: searching at least one of a plurality of nodes ofthe network based on at least one of the identifier and the data formatof the short profile data for retrieval of at least one of the pluralityof data elements of the long profile data therefrom.
 10. The method asin claim 1, locating the database on the network based on at least oneof the identifier, the data format of the short profile data and thelocation of the database on the network comprising: locating at leastone base station forming a node on the network, the at least one basestation being in data communication with a device hosting the database,wherein the plurality of data elements of the long profile data isretrievable from the database via the at least one base station.
 11. Adevice-readable medium having stored therein a plurality of programminginstructions, which when executed on a device, the instructions causethe device to: receive short profile data of a user from a device, theshort profile data comprising an identifier element and being associatedwith long profile data of the user in a database on a network, the shortprofile data being indicative of at least one of data format of theshort profile data and location of the database on the network; locatethe database on the network based on at least one of the identifier, thedata format of the short profile data and the location of the databaseon the network, the long profile data comprising a plurality of dataelements; and retrieve at least one of the plurality of data elements ofthe long profile data from the database upon the database being located.12. The device-readable medium as in claim 11, the short profile datafurther comprising at least one of contact details, preferences andbio-data of the user.
 13. The device-readable medium as in claim 11, theplurality of programming instructions, which when executed, cause thedevice further to: update the database with the at least one of contactdetails, preferences and bio-data of the user.
 14. The device-readablemedium as in claim 11, the plurality of programming instructions, whichwhen executed, cause the device further to: process the short profiledata to identify the user as one of an acceptable user and anunacceptable; and discard the short profile data of the user uponidentifying the user as an unacceptable user.
 15. The device-readablemedium as in claim 11, the plurality of programming instructions, whichwhen executed, cause the device further to: receive the short profiledata and metadata of the short profile data from the device.
 16. Thedevice-readable medium as in claim 15, the metadata comprising at leastone of an encryption key and information on encryption format of thelong profile data.
 17. The device-readable medium as in claim 15, themetadata being descriptive of at least one of the data format of theshort profile data and data format of the long profile data.
 18. Thedevice-readable medium as in claim 11, the plurality of programminginstructions, which when executed, cause the device further to: providea plurality of required data fields; provide a plurality of source datafields, each of the plurality of data elements of the long profile beingassociated with one of the plurality of source data fields; and retrievethe at least one of the plurality of data elements with at least one ofthe plurality of source data fields corresponding with at least one ofthe plurality of required data fields.
 19. The device-readable medium asin claim 11, the plurality of programming instructions, which whenexecuted, cause the device further to: search at least one of aplurality of nodes of the network based on at least one of theidentifier and the data format of the short profile data for retrievalof at least one of the plurality of data elements of the long profiledata therefrom.
 20. The device-readable medium as in claim 11, theplurality of programming instructions, which when executed, cause thedevice further to: locate at least one base station forming a node onthe network, the at least one base station being in data communicationwith a device hosting the database, wherein the plurality of dataelements of the long profile data is retrievable from the database viathe at least one base station.
 21. A profile management systemcomprising: means for receiving short profile data of a user from adevice, the short profile data comprising an identifier element andbeing associated with long profile data of the user in a database on anetwork, the short profile data being indicative of at least one of dataformat of the short profile data and location of the database on thenetwork; means for locating the database on the network based on atleast one of the identifier, the data format of the short profile dataand the location of the database on the network, the long profile datacomprising a plurality of data elements; and means for retrieving atleast one of the plurality of data elements of the long profile datafrom the database upon the database being located.
 22. The system as inclaim 21, the short profile data further comprising at least one ofcontact details, preferences and bio-data of the user.
 23. The system asin claim 22, further comprising: means for updating the database withthe at least one of contact details, preferences and bio-data of theuser.
 24. The system as in claim 21, further comprising: means forprocessing the short profile data to identify the user as one of anacceptable user and an unacceptable; and means for discarding the shortprofile data of the user upon identifying the user as an unacceptableuser.
 25. The system as in claim 21, the means for receiving shortprofile data of a user from a device comprising: means for receiving theshort profile data and metadata of the short profile data from thedevice.
 26. The system as in claim 25, the metadata comprising at leastone of an encryption key and information on encryption format of thelong profile data.
 27. The system as in claim 25, the metadata beingdescriptive of at least one of the data format of the short profile dataand data format of the long profile data.
 28. The system as in claim 21,the means for retrieving at least one of the plurality of data elementsof the long profile data from the database comprising: means forproviding a plurality of required data fields; means for providing aplurality of source data fields, each of the plurality of data elementsof the long profile being associated with one of the plurality of sourcedata fields; and means for retrieving the at least one of the pluralityof data elements with at least one of the plurality of source datafields corresponding with at least one of the plurality of required datafields.
 29. The system as in claim 21, the means for locating thedatabase on the network based on at least one of the identifier, thedata format of the short profile data and the location of the databaseon the network comprising: means for searching at least one of aplurality of nodes of the network based on at least one of theidentifier and the data format of the short profile data for retrievalof at least one of the plurality of data elements of the long profiledata therefrom.
 30. The system as in claim 21, the means for locatingthe database on the network based on at least one of the identifier, thedata format of the short profile data and the location of the databaseon the network comprising: means for locating at least one base stationforming a node on the network, the at least one base station being indata communication with a device hosting the database, wherein theplurality of data elements of the long profile data is retrievable fromthe database via the at least one base station.